3.05 Neither Clondaw Banker or Midnight Cowboy achieved what was expected of them over hurdles, despite both winning. CB ran well over CD last time and that was his best effort over fences so far. MC also ran over CD last time in a much stronger race that was his chasing debut and he looks sure to have improved for the experience. Bingo D’Olivate has been disappointing of late and did nothing last time to halt that slide, he should be better than he is showing and may comeback at some stage and Mahlers Star finished strongly last time at Bangor, that was also his chasing debut and looks like he should do better at this game.

3.35 Quarenta improved for the better ground and first time cheek-pieces last time around here, he ran a bit better than the distance beaten as he was eased late and has a good chance again today. Magic Bullet makes his handicap debut, his hurdles debut was a good one and the step up in trip is also in his favour around a track which should suit. Toviere has the best form and looks a bit over-priced, he lost his form on softer ground but bounced back with a really good effort at Ascot last time out.

4.10 I thought Seven Kingdoms was worth opposing but having looked at the race you may need to have your fingers crossed with some of the others. Minella Forfitness may have improved for his recent effort and was decent once upon a time but hardly rock solid. Flashman is exposed at this level and needs to bounce back from a poor effort last time, Triple Chief has stronger form and is in good order but he has never been easy to win with and Moorlands Jack has never won back to back, although he has strung a couple of decent efforts together, at 12 years of age, he’s not for me.

4.40 Spader is now drifting and it may be that he is a backable price later on, he was unlucky not to win last time and that was an improvement in first time tongue tie and handicap debut. When you have a short priced favourite as he is you look for something more solid each-way and whilst a case can be made for a few I’m not sure what sort of form they are in. Salto Chisco weakened of the home turn last time when back over hurdles and the drop in trip may help but I have failed to get him right on a few occasions so he’s not for me. Caprice D’Anglais went too fast early last time on debut for Sam Thomas, he is 12lbs higher than when winning a selling hurdle but this track should suit him, the stable are in form and he has a more experienced jockey today. Blackfire seems best on this surface, Black Buble showed his first piece of form when one place in front of SC at Stratford last time and Peppay Le Pugh continues to frustrate.

It’s been a bad week and a very quiet week, which is both frustrating and disappointing. But racing goes on and there will be plenty of opportunities over the next few weeks. I made a couple of mistakes and didn’t get involved in a few races I should have and horses didn’t give their running in races I did.

Plumpton

Poor card which makes little appeal but!

3.45 Too Many Diamonds makes his debut for Dan Skelton and must be the lowest rated horse in his yard. He finished behind Taurian on his last start in a Taunton selling hurdle. There is not a lot to say about the race, it is a very poor contest and if the change has improved him then the race is there for the taking. Taurian also comes from an inform yard and often travels well having won at Musselburgh and ran well at Taunton this track should suit. She has only raced once left handed over hurdles and ran badly but the ground was probably more to blame on that occasion.

Ludlow

2.30 Ozzy Thomas has been a bet the last 3 times, I was wrong to think he would have won when falling over fences around here but he has twice since ran well over hurdles and takes a further step up in trip to 3 miles today. I think he will stay and the pace of the race will help his jumping as he can “put down” at his fences and when going at racing pace that is not what a jockey wants, I was probably expecting a slightly bigger price as it has been sometime since he won. Hedley Lamarr has been a disappointing horse and one I thought would do better than he has of late, there is no doubt he is capable but remains below his best at present. Rouge Devils should make a better chaser, Herbert Park hasn’t gone on since winning at Worcester last season, which is annoying as we bet the 2nd that day and Doitforjoe won an Irish point and goes on the ground.

3.30 I opposed Hestina last time with the 2nd horse, she has improved of late as she has settled better in her races and the faster ground helps her stay the trip. It was disappointing that when left with the race at his mercy Wishful Dreaming couldn’t win last time at Exeter but that is strong form for this time of year and he keeps looking like a horse who is capable of better. Chieftains Choice has had a good time since he returned from his ban and remains on an upward curve, probably should have won last week and got form boost yesterday when Beyondtemptation won at Hexham and CD winner Peruvien Bleu over-turned an odds on favourite last time can win more races but has a bit to find on form.

4.00 This will not be for the faint-hearted as it will be very fast, very early and the first fence in the two mile chase races is horrible, as you have a long run to it and it is not far off a bend. Many of these look the same horse and some almost need to make the running or they will sulk, just a watch.

2.05 Cape Hideaway has the form and ability to win this, he just has a habit of getting beaten when he should have won. Money this morning for Sweeping Rock who is much lower than when he first achieved a handicap rating over hurdles, but that is for good reason. Star Trouper has always been capable and should have won at Wetherby a few months ago, he is settling better in his races and you would rather see his stable in better form but I am sure that will only be a matter of time, he has a better chance than 9/1.

3.10 Destinys Gold looked poised when falling last time out at Warwick, that was his debut for Dr. Newland obvious chance again today but odds are skinny for a horse who hasn’t won as often as he should have. Star Foot should prove a good each-way poke at 6/1, it is less likely he will win but down in grade and in form he should go well. At a bigger price 16/1 despite being an 11 year old in first time cheek-pieces Fort Carson can run well around a course he has won at, ideally I think he needs a bit further or a more testing track these days.

3.45 North Hill will be difficult to beat, he is in great form at present and the step up to 3 miles should also be in his favour, he remains a well handicapped horse. Pickamix is just one of many inform horses in this, he should have more progress than most and Charlie Mann has his string in good form at the moment. Brian Boranha won over CD last time has been very consistent all last season this is a better race so another step up required. Southport hasn’t progressed as I thought he would have after winning here and Popelys Gull would be my idea of the value of the race at 11/1, 2nd the last three runs, all over this trip he has done nothing wrong. He has crept up the handicap a couple of pounds again and this is a step up in grade but I think the race will suit him.

4.15 Not a race that made much appeal but Starlight Court would have won his only Irish Point but fell at the last, he probably has been a bit disappointing over hurdles but this ground and trip should suit him well. We all know how well schooled he will be coming from the inform Dan Skelton yard.

4.45 Pawn Star’s latest Chepstow 2nd was given a timely boost last weekend, he looks solid today and his stable are in good order. At a bigger price Wings Attract is now a well handicapped horse but an out of form one, if it is just a case that the first time tongue tie is what he needs then everything else is in place for a big run.

Another no bet day which is a bit of a surprise but I would rather watch and analysis.

Towcester

3.20 Champion Chase has a first time tongue tie on today, he takes a drop in trip around a stiff course and looks to have a really good chance, all reflected in his price. There is no doubt he has been a bit disappointing but he has also been dropped a couple of pounds so it all helps. Sulamani The Late has been running well of late and I think the track will suit him as he probably prefers horses coming back to him, he hasn’t looked the most determined in a finish and Towcester often suits that type of horse. Londonia is a funny one, he is well capable and has gone well fresh, the race he won last season was a similar type, the omitted the hurdles up the straight so whether that confused him into winning or whatever, he is capable if difficult to expect a win. Moscow Me could also go well as he may get an easy lead, he was 3rd over CD last time in a better race and the front two didn’t pull any further away from him once that had gone past, he should find one or two a bit quicker than him but he should be thereabouts and is an each-way price.

4.20 Kayla is tough and there should be more to come from her, she should have benefitted from a recent run and handles the track well. She is closely matched with Horace Hazel on collateral form, I have no doubt HH is a more talented horse but he has his own ideas. He is capable fresh and the blinkers are retained. With the betting generally 2/1 each of two I didn’t seen any edge, Kayla if it comes down to a battle but it isn’t a two horse race.

Sedgefield

7.00 Vodka Wells remains well handicapped and probably over did the front running at Kelso, he has since ran well at Wetherby when a mistake and a slipped saddle at the 2nd last cost him, I don’t think he would have won and he has almost got the snatching “defeat from the jaws of victory” of to a fine art. He once again looks to have a big chance tonight 2/1 makes no appeal with his overall record but I wouldn’t be a layer either. Chestnut Ben remains in form and very consistent, only 2lbs higher than his latest romp and this looks a 0-120 in name only.